Winter running

Running in the winter here in Minnesota is often a challenge. You are often running in the dark, plus the weather is cold, and the footing can be terrible. This past Saturday, we experienced our first major snowfall. The paths had not been plowed and the wind was strong with a wet snow blowing in our faces. We were moaning and groaning, (and rightfully so), but as we continued, the conversation lightened up and we commented on how beautiful the wet snow was on the trees and how it would be great to have the wind at our back once we reached the top of the lake. This is an important lesson for the winter and even the rest of the year: you will always feel better about the conditions and how you feel about the run after you have warmed up for the first mile. It also reminded me of a life lesson that took place in college.
I was taking an art class and came in on Saturday to work on a project. I passed the studio of one of my professors and saw that he was chipping away at a block of marble. I paused and said hello, and he invited me in. I could see the basic shape of the sculpture emerging, and I asked him how he brought himself to work on such a lovely autumn day and how he had the discipline to chip away for hours on end? His answer was very simple: "I just start".